diff --git a/rapids_dask_dependency/dask_loader.py b/rapids_dask_dependency/dask_loader.py
index da61d3e..9d2492d 100644
--- a/rapids_dask_dependency/dask_loader.py
+++ b/rapids_dask_dependency/dask_loader.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import sys
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
-from rapids_dask_dependency.utils import patch_warning_stacklevel
+from rapids_dask_dependency.utils import _patching_enabled, patch_warning_stacklevel
 
 
 class DaskLoader(importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader):
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ def disable(self, name):
     def find_spec(self, fullname: str, _, __=None):
         if fullname in self._blocklist:
             return None
+        if not _patching_enabled():
+            return None
         if (
             fullname in ("dask", "distributed")
             or fullname.startswith("dask.")
diff --git a/rapids_dask_dependency/utils.py b/rapids_dask_dependency/utils.py
index 3adc184..5801da3 100644
--- a/rapids_dask_dependency/utils.py
+++ b/rapids_dask_dependency/utils.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
+import os
 import warnings
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import lru_cache
@@ -24,3 +25,30 @@ def patch_warning_stacklevel(level):
     warnings.warn = _make_warning_func(level)
     yield
     warnings.warn = previous_warn
+
+
+# Default patching behavior depends on the value of the
+# `RAPIDS_DASK_PATCHING` environment variable. If this
+# environment variable does not exist, patching will be
+# enabled. Otherwise, this variable must be set to
+# `'True'` for patching to be enabled.
+
+
+_env = "RAPIDS_DASK_PATCHING"
+
+
+def _patching_enabled() -> bool:
+    return os.environ.get(_env, "True") == "True"
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def patching_context(enabled: bool = True):
+    original = os.environ.get(_env)
+    os.environ[_env] = "True" if enabled else "False"
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        if original is None:
+            os.environ.pop(_env, None)
+        else:
+            os.environ[_env] = "True" if original else "False"
diff --git a/tests/test_patch.py b/tests/test_patch.py
index 586cdce..cc5c922 100644
--- a/tests/test_patch.py
+++ b/tests/test_patch.py
@@ -102,3 +102,15 @@ def test_distributed_cli_dask_spec_as_module():
         print(e.stdout.decode())
         print(e.stderr.decode())
         raise
+
+
+@run_test_in_subprocess
+def test_dask_patching_disabled():
+    from rapids_dask_dependency.utils import patching_context
+
+    with patching_context(enabled=False):
+        import dask
+        import distributed
+
+        assert not hasattr(dask, "_rapids_patched")
+        assert not hasattr(distributed, "_rapids_patched")